Jaguar Land Rover has teamed up with Grammy-award winning, multi-platinum virtual band Gorillaz to recruit the next generation of electronic and software engineers.

The automotive company is to recruit 5,000 new members of staff this year – with more than 1,000 of those being electronic and software engineers.

Within the Gorillaz app, a Jaguar Land Rover recruitment area has been launched. In the mixed reality app, applicants can explore the garage of the band’s home in 360° and take part in a two-part challenge. The first part involves assembling the Jaguar I-Pace Concept – the company’s first all-electric five-seater sports car – and learning about what the vehicle has to offer. The second part asks potential recruits to crack the codes to a series of puzzles in Alternate Reality Game (ARG) format.

“As the automotive industry transforms over the next decade, fuelled by software innovation, we have to attract the best talent and that requires a radical rethink of how we recruit,” said Alex Heslop, head of electrical engineering at Jaguar Land Rover. “Here we’ve found an engaging way to recruit a diverse talent pool in software systems, cyber systems, app development and graphics performance. It will be the first of its kind.”

Jaguar Land Rover encourages potential applicants to download the app and solve the problems presented to them in order to fast-track their way into employment. However, traditional application methods and CVs will continue to be accepted.